Candidates eyed to lead other districts

The three finalists for Arlington's permanent superintendent named Tuesday, March 9, after interim Superintendent Kathleen Bodie had withdrawn from the process, are all finalists elsewhere. The Arlington finalists are:

— Christopher Farmer, superintendent of Gloucester public schools;

— Eric Ely, superintendent of Schenectady, N.Y., public schools; and

— Kelly Clenchy, superintendent of public schools in Bristol, Maine, District 26.

Feb. 25: 8 candidates seek to be superintendent

Bodie's withdrawal was announced in a letter dated March 4, the day a Web site reported she is a finalist for the superintendent position in Swampscott. Her contract for the $155,000 job ends in June. [Full text of letter below]

Interviews of the candidates are set for Monday, March 15; Tuesday, March 16, and Wednesday, March 17 -- all at 8 p.m. in the School Committee Room, sixth floor, Arlington High School. The School Committee has scheduled an executive (closed) session for Wednesday, March 17, at 9:30 p.m. to consider superintendent applicants.

The announcement of the three finalists followed a lengthy public hearing about the proposed fiscal 2011 school budget, which now shows a $3.6 million deficit.

Visits to the candidates' districts could occur after March 18, and the target date for naming a new superintendent is March 23.

That school could run afoul of superintendent searches elsewhere.

Clenchy and Farmer are also the two finalists for superintendent of the Triton Regional School District, serving Newbury, Rowley and Salisbury, in Byfield, Mass.

Ely is also a finalist to be superintendent in Billings, Mont., and Erie, Pa., according to reports.

On Thursday and Friday, March 11 and 12, Clenchy and Farmer are to visit Triton. The day is to end with a public interview with the Triton School Committee to be held each night at 7 p.m. with the candidates.

A timelime shows a vote to appoint on March 18, which would put one out of the running for Arlington.

Meanwhile, The Gloucester Daily Times reported March 5 that Farmer, a candidate for superintendent in Andover, was passed over for another.

The Andover Townsmen had reported Feb. 18 that Clenchy, 53, a superintendent in Maine at a salary of $98,522, has been a finalist in superintendent searches in North Andover and East Bridgewater. Clenchy's wife, Brooke, is the superintendent in Winchendon, near the New Hampshire border.

Farmer, who is reported to be paid $145,000 in Gloucester, was in charge when Gloucester High School received major media attention after a number of students there became pregnant in the spring of 2008.

A March 8 article in the Billings Gazette notes Ely's candidacy in that Montana city and adds:

"In February 2009, Ely’s facilities supervisor Steven Raucci was arrested on suspicion of arson, vandalism and weapons possession. Raucci was accused of leaving pipe bombs on the property of co-workers and vandalizing property."

In a followup story March 11, the newspaper quoted Ely as saying he "immediately addressed" a complaint alleged by a former principal in the case involving Raucci.

Erie, Pa., a blog refers to Ely's candidacy there.

Ely has been superintendent in Schenectady since January 2006, according to the district's Web site. His starting salary then was $142,000.

Full text of letter from Bodie

March 4, [2010]

Dear Ms. Heigham,

I write to request that my name be withdrawn from the Superintendent Search Process. While I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with Arlington's teachers, administrators, and students for the past ten years including the past two years as Interim Superintendent, I believe it is in the best interest of the Arlington students and school community for the search to proceed without me. I am confident the school committee will use its best judgment in identifying the candidate who can provide the leadership that will bring the community together and who will support the excellent teachers, administrators, and staff who work very hard to educate and care for the students in the Arlinston Public Schools.

This story was first reported Wednesday, March 10, and updated three times.